The location, appearance and organization of the library facility can greatly affect the community's perception of the library and its programs; the ease or difficulty the library staff will have in operating its programs and services; and the ability of the community to use library programs and services. The library facility should meet the library's goals and objectives and the needs of the community. It should be designed for economic operation and maintenance, flexibility in use, easy access and with sufficient space.

The selection of the library site is critical to the success of the library program. The facility should be placed where the largest percentage of the tribal community passes in the conduct of their everyday life and in the vicinity of other tribal facilities. If the library is part of a larger complex it should be located so that entrance and exit can be made through outside doors. If the rest of the building is not in use (such as after business hours) library patrons can come and go to the library without disturbing other areas.

Other considerations include:

1. The site should be large enough to allow for parking and if applicable, future expansion of the facility.

4. Placed in an environmentally sound location, that is factors such as flooding, wind direction, and sun angle should be considered.

The next consideration should be the size of the facility needed. There is no simple formula to use in determining the amount of space needed. But, a standard of seven square feet per capita has been used as a recommended figure. Generally, the size of the library depends upon the use.

To be considered in planning for space allocation include areas for:

1. Entrance and lobby

2. Multi-purpose room

3. Restroom(s)

4. Card Catalog or online catalog terminals

5. Circulation

6. Reference

7. Current periodicals

8. Microform

9. Book shelves

10. Reading and study

11. Conference rooms

12. Children's section

13. Administration, including an office for the librarian

14. Technical services

15. Shipping and receiving

16. Staff lounge

17. Janitor's closet

18. Special rooms (computer lab, listening, etc.)

19. Audio-visual

20. Other areas (archives, records, government documents, etc.)

21. Area for any special activities that are anticipated on a regular basis

The actual needs of the community should be reviewed in making decisions about how much space is needed. Some state libraries have consultants who can provide guidance in facility planning.

A planning team could be formed if a new facility is to be built. It can include a representative of the BIA, an architect, a representative of the state library and the librarian. The planning team could also be used to evaluate and/or reorganize an existing library facility.